Moussa's visit to Mauritania is the first by an Arab League chief to the Arab country. It comes after the controversial visit paid by Mauritania's foreign minister to Israel in violation of a unanimous league recommendation to suspend all political contacts with the Jewish state.

Moussa was unanimously chosen by the Arab heads of state to succeed Esmat Abdel Meguid during the Arab summit in March in Amman. The former Egyptian foreign minister is tasked with revitalizing the umbrella organization - Albawaba.com